Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Over 150 years ago, the United States Army attacked and killed 400-450 Shoshone men, women and children in Northern Cache Valley. The attack resulted in one of the largest slaughters of Native Americans in U.S. history. The site of the attack along the Bear River had been used for hundreds of years as a place for trade, cultural exchange and socialization by the Tribe. Wuda Ogwa, which translates directly to βBear River,β was abandoned by the Shoshone after the massacre and eventually converted to agricultural fields.
In 2008, the Shoshone purchased part of the historic site in an effort to transform it into a place of healing. Since 2018, the Shoshone have been working on a plan to restore and preserve Wuda Ogwa far into the future. The goal is to return the land to what it was like before the pioneers arrived and to share Shoshone history with an interpretive center.
One benefit of the Wuda Ogwa restoration may be increased water flow to Great Salt Lake, which is facing rapid ecological collapse as its waters recede and salinity levels skyrocket. Historically, the Bear River emptied into Great Salt Lake, but with much of its water now going to agriculture, water from the Bear River rarely makes it to the lake. The Tribe acquired certain water rights when they purchased the property, and they can choose to put those water rights back into the Great Salt Lake. By taking out invasive and water-wasteful Russian olive trees along the water and fostering the return of native willow and cottonwood, they intend to allow the retention of more water in the system. Itβs a drop in the bucket compared to the millions of acre-feet of water needed to return Great Salt Lake to healthy levels, but even small steps like this can make a difference.
In addition to improving the hydrology of the site, plans include removing non-native vegetation, planting native and medicinal plants used by the Shoshone and creating high-quality habitat for birds. Removal of Russian olive trees and conversion of incised streams to broad floodplains will bring back high-quality wetlands to this ecologically important area. The restoration project also hopes to encourage outdoor recreation with a system of walking trails, a waterway for canoes and paddle boards and interpretive signage throughout.
Todayβs Summer Forum program is presented by Brad Parry, Natural Resources Officer & Project Manager (Construction and Water Management Specialist) for the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation.
Recorded on August 13, 2023, as part of the annual Summer Forum series at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Special thanks to moderator Gene Mahalko and the Save Great Salt Lake Team at First Unitarian Church for hosting this installment of Summer Forum.
00:00 Opening Sequence
00:23 Chalice Lighting & Introduction - Gene Mahalko
03:05 Presentation - Brad Parry
1:01:20 Q & A with Brad Parry
1:19:00 Announcements - Joan Gregory
1:22:15 Acknowledgments - Gene Mahalko
1:22:40 End Credits
π First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
β Website: slcuu.org
β Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
β Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
β YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
π Summer Forum and the other programs at First Unitarian Church are supported entirely by the financial contributions of members and friends.
β Donate: slcuu.org/give
π¬ Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
β youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZYtna6Mor0EyGIWIA2yn1Fu
β youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbGl3i7Iy3xA2S15vD-nRmI
Over 150 years ago, the United States Army attacked and killed 400-450 Shoshone men, women and children in Northern Cache Valley. The attack resulted in one of the largest slaughters of Native Americans in U.S. history. The site of the attack along the Bear River had been used for hundreds of years as a place for trade, cultural exchange and socialization by the Tribe. Wuda Ogwa, which translates directly to βBear River,β was abandoned by the Shoshone after the massacre and eventually converted to agricultural fields.
In 2008, the Shoshone purchased part of the historic site in an effort to transform it into a place of healing. Since 2018, the Shoshone have been working on a plan to restore and preserve Wuda Ogwa far into the future. The goal is to return the land to what it was like before the pioneers arrived and to share Shoshone history with an interpretive center.
One benefit of the Wuda Ogwa restoration may be increased water flow to Great Salt Lake, which is facing rapid ecological collapse as its waters recede and salinity levels skyrocket. Historically, the Bear River emptied into Great Salt Lake, but with much of its water now going to agriculture, water from the Bear River rarely makes it to the lake. The Tribe acquired certain water rights when they purchased the property, and they can choose to put those water rights back into the Great Salt Lake. By taking out invasive and water-wasteful Russian olive trees along the water and fostering the return of native willow and cottonwood, they intend to allow the retention of more water in the system. Itβs a drop in the bucket compared to the millions of acre-feet of water needed to return Great Salt Lake to healthy levels, but even small steps like this can make a difference.
In addition to improving the hydrology of the site, plans include removing non-native vegetation, planting native and medicinal plants used by the Shoshone and creating high-quality habitat for birds. Removal of Russian olive trees and conversion of incised streams to broad floodplains will bring back high-quality wetlands to this ecologically important area. The restoration project also hopes to encourage outdoor recreation with a system of walking trails, a waterway for canoes and paddle boards and interpretive signage throughout.
Todayβs Summer Forum program is presented by Brad Parry, Natural Resources Officer & Project Manager (Construction and Water Management Specialist) for the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation.
Recorded on August 13, 2023, as part of the annual Summer Forum series at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Special thanks to moderator Gene Mahalko and the Save Great Salt Lake Team at First Unitarian Church for hosting this installment of Summer Forum.
00:00 Opening Sequence
00:23 Chalice Lighting & Introduction - Gene Mahalko
03:05 Presentation - Brad Parry
1:01:20 Q & A with Brad Parry
1:19:00 Announcements - Joan Gregory
1:22:15 Acknowledgments - Gene Mahalko
1:22:40 End Credits
π First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
β Website: slcuu.org
β Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
β Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
β YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
π Summer Forum and the other programs at First Unitarian Church are supported entirely by the financial contributions of members and friends.
β Donate: slcuu.org/give
π¬ Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
β youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZYtna6Mor0EyGIWIA2yn1Fu
β youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbGl3i7Iy3xA2S15vD-nRmI
